The presents are opened, the wrapping paper crumpled up and thrown away, and new items assembled – yes, my friends Christmas is now over.  We have even completed our traveling for the season.  All that I have in front of me is a week of complete and unadulterated vacation with absolutely nothing to do.  Whatever will I do with myself?  I have a few things on tap: Relax Get in some great workouts Relax Clean the house Relax Spend time with my family Relax I’m hoping you see a pattern here.  The point is to get a few things done, […] Read more »

Here it is, the weekend before Christmas.  Or as I like to call it, The Calm Before The Storm.  Next week is a short school and work week, and then the entire Pizel family is off for the remainder of the year.  There will be presents to open, traveling to do, and family to see.  I will enjoy the time off, and spending time with family, but I’ll give myself until Sunday before I’ve gone completely bat shit crazy because of the lack of my normal routine.  Yes, I’m majorly Type A, and the struggle is going to be very […] Read more »

Only two more shopping weekends until Christmas, how is your shopping coming along??  My kids submitted their lists last week, and we’ve been picking items off as the days tick by.  We’ll pick up a few more items this weekend, and I’ve got some gifts for Vonnie ordered online and being shipped.  This could turn out to be the easiest Christmas shopping season ever!! To keep you financially motivated and on track, here’s my favorite posts of the week…..check ’em out and give them some love – and do NOT forget to pump those fists! Posts That Make Me Fist […] Read more »

Great weekend ahead, EOD Nation!  We have our neighborhood Christmas party this evening hosted by one of our neighbors.  Tomorrow night we’re getting together with friends for an ugly sweater party.  Each gathering will require us to bring along some dish to pass, but throwing together some sort of appetizer or dessert will be super cheap.  Two nights of fun with friends, two nights with very little spent.  That’s what I like to call #WINNING. It definitely deserves some fist pump action….what do you have going this weekend? Posts That Make Me Fist Pump How To Save $200 On Your […] Read more »

I’m breathing a sigh of relief today, my friends.  In preparation for Thanksgiving at my mother-in-law’s house I spent all day Wednesday smoking a brisket, and got up crazy early yesterday morning to smoke a ham.  I got a great night’s sleep last night though. I hadn’t planned on going Black Friday shopping, but just for fun I looked through all the ads looking for anything that I was in the market to buy.  I found nothing.  The big goose egg.  Nada.  I woke up this morning refreshed and ready to take the rest of the weekend to recharge the […] Read more »

Whew, last night was a late one.  My neighbor hosts a Thursday game night from time to time.  I’m not exactly sure why it has to be on a Thursday and not on a weekend, but it is what it is.  We got going around 8:30 and played one game of Pandemic, and then a round of Ticket to Ride.  I walked in my front door about 1:15am.  One of the attendees brought along a variety of pumpkin beers to try, and there we ample amounts of snacks.  It was a fun, inexpensive…..and late night.  But don’t worry, I can […] Read more »

Earlier this week I talked about gazelle intensity, and how I’m going to tap into that kind of laser focus for two things:  1.) my weight loss and marathon training and 2.) saving up $7000 for my tax bill by April of next year.  Today is payday, so the savings begin.  Unfortunately, I haven’t plowed all the way through my budget for the next two weeks, and I need to do that before I start what I hope to be one of those “goal thermometers” here on my Fist Pump Friday posts.  Therefore, you have a week to think of […] Read more »

  It’s been one of those weeks where the days just flew by.  I’ve been a bad blogger friend, as I opened my RSS reader for literally the very first time this week today.  My fellow personal finance bloggers write a LOT of articles in a week.   🙂  I’m happy this week is over, I’ve cleared the boards and ready to start fresh for next week. That in itself is worth a fist pump or two!   Posts That Make Me Fist Pump Dealing With Setbacks in a Debt Payoff Journey from Well Kept Wallet Introverts Rejoice!: Extroverts Spend More […] Read more »

My fist pumps are bitter sweet this week, my friends.  If you are in the habit of checking out my links of shameless self promotion, you’ll know that I post every Wednesday in the online community of CareOne Debt Relief Services.  CareOne is the debt relief provider that Vonnie and I used to pay off $109,000 in credit card debt.  It was also where I was introduced to the blogging world and started my second career as a freelance writer.  It is with a heavy heart that I say that unless something unforeseen occurs, this week’s post is likely my […] Read more »

My daughter wanted to have a Halloween party with her friends, so we’ve been busily helping her with the planning and collecting the needed supplies.   We’ll be decorating the garage and doing prep work tonight, and her party is tomorrow evening.  There will be some special treats, a decked out garage, music, and pumpkin carving.   As we have little discussions here or there to put the finishing touches on the party, I can see a little gleam in her eye.  I know that look, it’s the same one her mother gets when she’s planning an event.  I’m really looking forward […] Read more »

The kids are off of school Thursday and Friday of this week so we decided to something fun with them.  We live about an hour south of the Minneapolis/St.Paul metropolitan area, and door to door it’s about 70 minutes to the Mall Of America.  In the middle of the mall is an indoor amusement park called Nickelodeon Universe.  I get all day ride wrist bands at a great discount (about 33% off), which helps with the cost.  We allowed them each to bring one friend, and we spent the day riding rides, checking out a few stores, and then meeting […] Read more »

Happy fist pump Friday, EOD Nation!  I thought about you last weekend as I ran the Twin Cities Marathon, and fist pumped my way across the finish line!   I was ecstatic to see that the official pictures taken caught me mid fist pump.  I think I’ve finally found the picture I will use for these Friday posts, at least for awhile. I’m also happy to report that I’m back to walking normally, but I have not returned to running yet as my joints and muscles still hurt when I do impact exercises.  It will  be the bicycle for cardio for […] Read more »